RiverDogs Fall to Pesky Sand Gnats 6-3

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Charleston RiverDogs gave up four runs with two outs in the first inning and were unable to come back, as they lost to the Savannah Sand Gnats 6-3 Saturday night at Historic Grayson Stadium.

After falling down 4-0 early, the RiverDogs (9-14 second half, 43-50 overall) rallied back with one run in the second inning and quickly cut the deficit to three as Alexander Palma drove in Bo Thompson with a one-out base hit to left field.

The Sand Gnats (8-14, 47-45) tacked on one more run in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Eudor Garcia, but Charleston answered back in the top of the fourth. Jorge Mateo led off with a single, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Isaias Tejeda. Tejeda advanced to third on a throwing error by the left fielder Vicente Lupo and scored on Collin Slaybaugh’s ground out to make the score 5-3 Savannah.

However, the RiverDogs would get no closer than two as the offense went down quietly for the rest of the night. The Sand Gnats added one more run in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Wuilmer Becerra.

Savannah jumped ahead right away with four two-out runs in the first inning. They sent all nine batters to the plate against the RiverDogs’ starter Justin Kamplain. Michael Katz hit an RBI double, followed by Garcia’s RBI single. John Mora drove in the third run of the frame with a triple, and Tomas Nido capped off the scoring with an RBI single to left.

Kamplain (3-11) gave up all six runs in the first 3 1/3 innings and took the loss for Charleston. However, Sean Carley did not allow a run and only gave up four hits, while Dillon McNamara pitched two scoreless, hitless innings of relief.

Ricky Knapp (4-1) went the first six innings and earned the win for Savannah. Cameron Griffin worked around a one-out double by Tejeda in the ninth to keep the RiverDogs off the board, as he tallied his third save of the season.

BOX SCORE: http://atmilb.com/1IbmyXB

COMING UP: The RiverDogs continue their four-game series against Savannah Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Charleston will send RHP Matt Wotherspoon (2-1, 3.89 ERA) to the mound against RHP Casey Delgado (3-3, 4.22 ERA) for the Sand Gnats. You can listen to all the action on “The Big Talker” 1250 WTMA, WTMA.com, and RiverDogs.com.

-RIVERDOGS-